Eclipse Acquires Minority Share in Destin

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners has acquired a minority interest in multiple graded stakes winner and GI Kentucky Derby hopeful Destin (Giant's Causeway), Twin Creeks Racing Stables announced Tuesday. Winner of the Feb. 13 GIII Sam F. Davis S. and the Mar. 12 GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, the gray arrived at Churchill Downs Monday to finalize his preparations for the Run for the Roses with trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We are excited to partner with Aron [Wellman] and Brian [Spearman] and their racing partners on Destin,” said Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Randy Gullatt. “Twin Creeks and Eclipse have both been in the same barn with Todd for a long time, so there is familiarity and a comfort level working with Eclipse. I have great confidence it will be a good team, and we're all now just looking forward to the Kentucky Derby.”

A first-out maiden winner at Belmont last October, Destin showed steady improvement throughout the winter, culminating in a track-record setting win in the Tampa Bay Derby, defeating next-out Grade I winners Outwork (Uncle Mo) and Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) in the process.

“We are honored to team up with Randy and Steve (Davison] of Twin Creeks to partner on Destin,” added Eclipse president Aron Wellman. “The Twin Creeks team and Todd have done an exceptional job of developing and managing Destin. He has exhibited brilliance in his pair of graded stakes wins, and Destin is a fast and progressive colt. We are certainly bullish on his prospects for the Kentucky Derby, but equally as excited about the long-term vision we share with Twin Creeks for Destin's racing future. We are proud to be associated with a colt of this caliber.”

Destin, purchased for $400,000 by Twin Creeks as a Keeneland September yearling, worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 last Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, and trained over the Churchill track for the first time Tuesday. He is scheduled to have his final breeze in Louisville this coming Saturday.